LINGUIST List 12.1699

Sun Jul 1 2001

Qs: Wh-questions in Arabic

Editor for this issue: James Yuells <jameslinguistlist.org>

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I am looking for information about the formation of wh-questions in
Arabic, both Classic Arabic and Arabic dialects.
Is it the case that Classic Arabic similar to English always requires
movement of a wh-phrase clause-initially, while in dialects both
wh-movement and wh-in-situ strategies are available.
Wahba analysing Iraqi Arabic and Egyptian Arabic data shows that both
Iraqi Arabic and Egyptian Arabic have both strategies available. Is there
any difference in meaning depending on the position of a wh-phrase in a
sentence or is there a difference in register: formal vs. informal style.
I will appreaciate any information.